Boston Red Sox: What to Make of Detroit Tigers' Shellacking of Red Sox

Back-to-back losses to the Detroit Tigers, including a 10-0 beatdown this afternoon, probably wasn't what manager Bobby Valentine had in mind to start the season.

In case you missed the game, you missed quite the power performance by Tigers sluggers Miguel Cabrera and Prince Fielder, connecting for two home runs each on the day.

Alex Avila also put one out, making it five total home runs allowed by Boston's Josh Beckett, who was making his first start of the season. Beckett exited the game with two outs left in the fifth inning, allowing seven earned runs on seven hits (five home runs) while walking one and striking out three.

On Thursday, Boston battled back from a 2-0 deficit to tie the game off of Detroit closer Jose Valverde, who didn't blow a save in 49 opportunities last season. The Tigers won the game in the bottom of the ninth after Alfredo Aceves and Mark Melancon couldn't contain the Detroit lineup.

Now it is still much too early to start to panic, but there are some things that we should look at.

Boston didn't earn a win until their seventh game last season, and they led the AL East for the majority of the season thereafter. Detroit is easily one of the top teams in all of baseball, so if they can't come up with a win tomorrow, it's not the end of the world...yet. 

Through two games, four Boston starters have yet to even get a hit. Jacoby Ellsbury, Kevin Youkilis, Cody Ross and Mike Aviles need to start hitting if Boston doesn't want to dig themselves a hole this early in the season. The Red Sox can't win games with half of their lineup not hitting; it's that simple.

Yes, Josh Beckett got roughed up badly today, but did anyone expect him to be perfect every game of the season? I'd much rather have him get hit hard against good hitters than allow seven runs to the Minnesota Twins.

Overall, it has been two games. Only two games. Boston is still slated to play 160 more. Let's just try not to panic yet.